KeralaKerala Natanam ( കേരള നടനം ) (
KeralaKerala Dance) is a new
style of dance that is now recognised as a distinct art form evolved
from Kathakali, a form of Indian dance-drama. The Indian dancer Guru
Gopinath ( ഗുരു ഗോപിനാഥ്‌ ) a well-trained
KathakaliKathakali artist and his wife Thankamani Gopinath who was the first
student of
MohiniyattamMohiniyattam in
KeralaKeralaKalamandalamKalamandalam developed a unique
structure for teaching and performing classical dance forms of India
whose origins are from Kathakali. Solo, duets, dance dramas and
traditional folk dances were the material they chose.
Guru Gopinath and Thankamani's dance programs found traditional pieces
existing side by side with those modified to present a variety of
themes. Their style relied heavily on the angika abhinaya (body
movements and gestures) and satvika abhinaya (facial expressions) from
Kathakali. The major stance of
KathakaliKathakali was changed by Gopinath to a
more convenient pose that could rest well with the tribhanga concept.
Another significant deviation was in aharya abhinaya (costume mode)
where they adopted costumes and facial makeup to suit the role. Thus,
in a dance on Jesus Christ, the dancer dressed like Christ. In social
dances the artists wore the dress of labourers, peasants, folk, etc.
Likewise roles of Srikrishna, king, snake charmer, hunter had the
appropriate attire. For the first time Carnatic music compositions
used for concerts were rendered into dance forms by Gopinath. Unlike
traditional
KathakaliKathakali and Mohini attam, a variety musical instruments
were added to his presentations.
Even though during his lifetime
Guru Gopinath did not give a name to
his style, after his death the movement to give his style a name
gained momentum. In 1993, during the Global Conference on Guru
Gopinath and
KeralaKerala Nadanam held in Trivandrum, a Sanskrit definition
was given to this style by his students: Keraleeya Shaastriya
Sargaathmaka Nrittham — "A traditional creative dance style
originating from Kerala."
KeralaKerala Nadanam can be performed in three ways: Ekamga Nadanam (solo),
Samgha Nadanam (group), Nataka Nadanam (dance drama enacting a story).
Male–female pair dancing is a distinct style in
KeralaKerala Nadanam. So
also he has extended the dance drama to five or six hours long
performance called Indian ballets.

Prominent artists[edit]
Guru ChandrasekharanGuru Chandrasekharan (1916–1998)[edit]
Guru ChandrasekharanGuru Chandrasekharan was a great Indian dancer and choreographer who
was born in Trivandrum,
KeralaKerala in 1916. His father was NK Nair (Kunju
Krishna Kurup), a notable oil painter. While studying at the
university, he started practicing dance without informing his parents.
He studied
KathakaliKathakali dance under the guidance of Guru Gopinath. During
that period, Gopinath received royal patronage from the Travancore
palace and a dance school named Sri Chithrodaya Nartha Kalalayam was
established by the government at Poojappura, Travancore.
Chandrasekharan was one of the first students. After some time,
Chandrasekharan learnt
KathakaliKathakali under Nedumudi Narayana Kurup who was
also a palace kathakali artiste. Later, he organized his own troupe
and conducted performances around India. Social themes were rarely
used in classical dances at the time. He has directed and
choreographed several social themes in dance.
In 1943, on an invitation from the government, he took his troupe to
Alexandria, Egypt; the Middle East; and Italy for military
entertainment as the Indian Army was engaged in World War II. At the
close of the war in 1946, he again tried to go to East Asia, but the
tour ended in Ceylon.
He has served as a dance professor at Shantiniketan, West Bengal, as a
member of the
KeralaKerala University Senate, Board of Director at Kerala
KalamandalamKalamandalam governing body, Advisory Committee member Malayalam
Encyclopedia, visiting dance professor of Swathi Thirunal College of
Music, and as a founder member of the director board of the Bala
Bhavan, Trivandrum.
In the late forties, at the insistence of some of his friends, he
composed and presented the 'Voice of Travancore,' a political theme in
dance form, which depicted the autocratic rule of the Dewan, Sir CP
Ramaswamy Iyer and people's movement of resistance thereon. However,
Sir CP was an admirer of Chandrasekharan's art. However,
Chandrasekharan received his highest appreciation in the All India
Educational Conference held at Trivandrum in 1946.
According to the report:

"The Nataraja Thandava was presented in a remarkable manner by
Chandrasekharan. When he presented the
HunterHunter Dance, his joy of being
the monarch of all he surveyed in the forest was vividly perceivable.
He aroused tragic sentiments to a remarkable extent while he was
experiencing suicidal agony as he was bitten by a snake. As he entered
'Ardhanareeswara,' here the body was responding to a double call of
vigour and grace. It was perhaps more than what an Uday Shankar could
do."

Another composition of his is 'Polinja Deepam' (the light that failed)
depicting the sad end of Mahatma Gandhi, which he played in 1948.
In 1949 he joined in the Viswabharathi University (Shantiniketan) as a
professor of
KathakaliKathakali dance. During this time, he composed and
portrayed Rabindranath Tagore's famous dance dramas, Chitrangada,
Chandalika, etc. in cities of North India including New Delhi and
Calcutta. In Viswabharathi, he had the opportunity to get acquainted
with many dance forms including those from Kandi, Bali, Burma, etc.
During this period in Shantiniketan, he got acquainted with Prof.
Humayun Kabir, Zakir Hussain (Former President of India) who were then
frequent visitors of Shantiniketan. All these great personalities
praised Chandrasekharan for his talent in performing art:
"Chandrasekharan has great expressiveness and was able to communicate
shades of feeling with subtlety and power. His sense of rhythm and
dramatic interpretation marks him out as an artist of distinction."
Poet Harindranth Chatopadhyaya wrote to him on February 21, 1952:

"Courage is this that single willed, unaided lone you build and build
Which shows you have the spirits pluck, so from the heart I wish you
luck."

SK George, a Gandhian disciple and a former director of Deenabandhu
Bhavan, Shantiniketan, said about him:

"Sri Chandrasekharan was one of the best teachers of Art that
Shantiniketan has had and did much to rouse interest in its study
among students from various parts of the country. He delighted
visitors to Shantiniketan from all parts of the world during his stay
there, by the finished technique of his art and has received glowing
testimonials from many of them, including delegates to the World
Pacifist meeting. In Gurudev's dance dramas like 'Chandalika,'
'Chitrangada' and 'Syama' presented in Shantiniketan and outside, he
took the leading parts."

After a couple of years, he came back from Viswabharathi and started
his own school at Trivandrum in the name Prathibha Nrithakala Kendra.
During 1954, he performed Thilakkunna Mannu (Simmering Sand) that had
a social theme advocating agrarian revolution. It has received wide
acclamation from celebrated persons like President Rajendra Prasad and
Dr. Radhakrishnan.
Chandrasekharan's creative contributions include such compositions as
'Voice of Travancore,' 'Manishada,' 'Siva Thandavam,' 'Ganesh
Nritham,' 'Ardhanareeswara,' 'Surya Nritham,' 'Geethopadesam,'
Kalidasa's 'Kumara Sambhavam,' 'Sakunthalam,' Kumaran Asan's 'Chandala
Bhikshuki,' Vallathol's 'Magdalana Maria,' 'Guruvum Sishyanum,'
Vayalar's 'Ayisha,' Changampuzha's 'Ramanan' and 'Markandeyan,'
'Mohini Rugmangada,' 'Savithri,' 'Dakshayagam,' 'Ekalavyan,'
'Chilappadikaram,' Greek story 'Pygmalion,' Chinese story 'Fisherman's
Revenge,' Japanese story 'Esashiyuvo' (Prapidiyan Pathalathil), Bible
story 'Salome' and many more. He successfully composed and performed
several ballets such as 'Sri Guruvayurappan,' 'Kumara Sambhavam,' 'Sri
Ayyappan,' 'Hrishya Sringan' and 'Sri Hanuman.'
He produced another ballet named Himavante Makkal (Children of the
Himalayas) in 1964 on the background of the India's history, which
concluded with the Chinese attack on India in 1962. After seeing it,
VV Giri, then governor of Kerala, was so happy that he invited
Chandrasekharan to Raj Bhavan and honored him. Here is an extract from
his complimentary remarks.

"I am delighted to witness the performance of a dance drama based on
National Integration presented by Pratibha Nrithakala Kendra,
Trivandrum, and directed by the famous and distinguished dancer
Chandrasekharan. This play describes the various periods through which
we have passed from Vedic period up to the present day. It is a most
thought provoking play and one who attends this show will feel
enthused and inspired and would strengthen his spirit of patriotism
and love of sacrifice for his country."

In 1965, Chandrasekharan composed an opera which was the first of its
kind in Malayalam as well as in any other Indian language. The opera
was based on the Mahabharata character Karnan. Chandrasekharan himself
played the role of Karna while nearly hundred others took part in it,
which was presented in Trivandrum for more than a month. The opera was
produced by Kala Nilayam permanent Theatres. Chandrasekharan later
started his own permanent stage called Prathibha Opera House and
produced another opera entitled 'Bhishmar' on the Mahabharata hero
which was an artistic success, but financially a flop, which forced
him to withdraw from the scene partly. However, he continued his
activities till 1980.
At a public meeting in connection with his Shashtiabdapurthi (60th
birthday) at Hassan Marrikar Hall, Trivandrum, under the chairmanship
of Prof. Ayappa Panicker, he was conferred the title of 'Guru' by the
public of Trivandrum. He was honoured with an award by Kerala
Sangeetha Nataka Academy in 1976. Chandrasekharan has written several
articles in periodicals about dances of India. His book on
Bharatanatyam titled Natiya Nirishanam is a masterpiece: the
culmination of a research work done with a Fellowship Award from the
Cultural Department, government of India.
Personal life[edit]
Chandrasekharan married Mohanavalli Amma of Kalappurakkal family,
Alangad Paravur, daughter of Gopala Panicker, assistant superintendent
of police of former Travancore State. His wife took active
participation in dance presentations. He died on 5 August 1998 at the
age of 82.
External links[edit]